Water saucer



May 31, 1960 o. B. HUNTER, JR

WATER SAUCER Filed may 1, 195s whs@ H.

ww m- WATER SAUCER Omer B. Hunter, Jr., 21701 Shoenbom St., Canoga Park, Calif.

Filed May 1, 1958, Ser. No. 732,287

7 Claims. (Cl. 272-32) This invention relates to amusement apparatus and more particularly to apparatus which can be propelled by swimmers or bathers which oiers a high degree of spinning and tilting characteristics.

lt has been conventional practice in the amusement field to employ a tiltable and rotatable ioat which supports swimmers or bathers and which is anchored at the bottom of the water in which it is to be used, such as the bottom of a swimming pool, for example. Such an apparatus is described in U.S. Patent No. 1,722,523, which provides a whirlable anchored iioat capable of supporting heavy loads and which is especially adapted for use on beaches and in pools to afford amusement for bathers who climb onto the oat and during the whirling thereof endeavor to retain their position on the oat and avoid being thrown therefrom into the water. This apparatus operates similar to the rotating platforms used on land.

Diiiiculties have been encountered when using such a iloat or platform which stem largely from the fact that the tilting action of the apparatus causes a substantial displacement of water and thereby greatly reduces the effectiveness of the apparatus as an amusement device. For example, because of the displacement of water, the speed at which the apparatus may be rotated while tilting is greatly reduced and the rapidity which the apparatus may be tilted from one position to another, such as encountered when the user shifts his weight, is greatly limited. Furthermore, inasmuch as the apparatus is extremely buoyant, apparatus of conventional design is subject lto excessive and rapid movement or displacement in its tilting action so as to unbalance the user and cause him to lose control. Such sensitivity in an apparatus of this type is highly undesirable.

These diiiiculties are obviated in accordance with the present invention wherein a float having improved roll characteristics is employed which is anchored to the bottom of the water by means of an expandable linkage having at least two universal joints for providing freedom of tilting action. Furthermore, the linkage is provided with a clamping means for limiting the sensitivity of the tilting action to a desired limit so that the user has a high degree of control over the tilting at all times regardless of weight or loads placed on the iioat.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a water saucer having improved roll characteristics and greater freedom of action than provided in conventional apparatus.

lt is another object ofthe present invention to provide a tiltable water saucer for the amusement of swimmers or bathers which does not displace water while in action so that the saucers ability -to rotate or spin is effectively unretarded.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a water saucer having a configuration which allows for maximum buoyancy and which allows the saucer to rest higher in the water than is possible with conventional apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is to nited States Patent O "a lso 2 provide a means for controlling the tilting action of the water saucer from one position to another so that the tilting action is under the control of the user at all times.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a Water saucer having means for forcibly urging the saucer to an upright position whereby said force is a function of the tilting angle of the saucer from the vertical plane or upright position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a water saucer which may move in a vertical plane while the saucer is spinning or at rest, the extent of movement being predetermined and adjustable.

These and other objects will be more apparent from a reading of the following description when taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a water saucer incorporating the present invention shown floating in a body of water;

Figure 2 is an elevational v iew of the water saucer shown in Figure l including the extendable linkage connecting the water saucer to a suitable anchor; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the linkage connecting the water saucer to the anchor including means for controlling the rate of tilting action or motion. The apparatus of the present invention maybe constructed in many different forms but in the present instance is shown in the form of a float 10 of a spherical or rounded bowl configuration having a platform 11 suitably secured thereto. Platform y11 is provided with several annular beads 12 which are integrally formed in the platform and serve as reinforcing members or stifeners so that the platform can assume the weight of several persons and provide these persons with some form of a gripping surface. Between the platform and the oat, there is provided an air chamber 13 which adds to the buoyancy of the float. Although the oat may be constructed of many materials, it is preferred to employ a laminated liber-glass construction because of its light weight and high strength characteristics.

Extending lthrough the center of the platform and the apex of the bowl and made integral therewith or permanently atiixed thereto in any suitable manner, is a fiberglass sleeve 14 which extends above the platform and below the bowl. Sleeve 14 operatesv asa hub for the float 10 and is connected to a steel tube 15 which rotates with sleeve 14. A shaft 16 extends loosely through the tube 15 and has a hand wheel 17 fixed to the upper end thereof so that the float 10 and sleeves 14 and 15 can revolve relative to shaft 16 and hand wheel 17. The iloat 10 may rotate about shaft 16 and, as will be later described, the hand wheel will be biased downwardly against the upper end of tube i5. The lower end of shaft 16 has a stop 16 which supports the staple 18 and this stop serves to limit the downward movement of the oat 10 and tube 15 relative to shaft 16. The sleeve 15 is formed of upper and lower sections secured together by collar 23 and a collar 3? is secured to the lower end of tube 15 to serve as a stop for engaging stop 16.

The lower end of shaft 16 is connected by a rst universal jonit comprising a pair of cooperating staples 18 and 19 to the upper end of an extendable linkage represented by numeral 20 while the lower end of the linkage is connected to an anchor 21 by a second universal joint comprising a staple 22 and a part of the anchor 21. The anchor may be of any suitable or desired construction and is shown here in the form of a reinforcing rod 23 bent with the ends thereof extended in opposite directions to form a secure connection with the anchor 21. The anchor is preferably constructed of concrete and may be of any desirable shape and suitable size to insure the anchoring of the oat at the bottom of the waiter in which it is to be used. The anchor is provided with an Patented May 31, 196i)` formsof a.disc.. or may beprovided with a plurality of;

spokes=25l which radiate from a collar 26.carried'on the upperendpf; tube.151 outwardly into attachmentwith a` common ring 17.

Linkage 2t! may be said to comprise an elongated cylinder 31 having a cap 32-secured to its'upper end and fastened to the first universal joint via staple 19 and an inner collar 33 secured to the inside-diameter of the cylinder/through which a hollow piston 34 passes as shown more clearly in Figure 3. Collar 33 in cooperation with a collar 35'. carried-on the upper end of piston 34 maintains piston- 34 is a substantial coaxial relationship with cylinder 311 as the linkage is extended and retracted. The lower end of piston 34 is provided with a cap 37 in threaded engagement with the piston which carries the U Shaped member or staple 22 forming a part of seco-nd universal joint which is engageable with the exposed portion of rod 23. To prevent a forceful engagement of collars 33y and 35, a shock absorbing spring 40 is disposed about piston 34 between the two collars which prevents abrupt contact therebetween.

It has lbeen found desirableto provide av means for maintaining the iioat in a substantial vertical plane-and which will return the'oat to a substantially vertical plane from a tilted position. This means comprises, a pin 41 which passes through the top of cylinder 31 and which is secured thereto by upsetting the end thereof so that the rodcannot be disengaged from the cylinder, and a similar pin 42 secured in a similar fashion to the lower end of piston 34 at yright angle to the pin 41. A pre-loaded position of the sleeve or shaft relative to each other and/orto the body.

On the end of shaft 53 projecting into cavity 52, there is secured a retaining nut 57f which retains a washer 58 on ,the shaft. Washer 58 is urged against the retaining nut by the force of a helical spring 60 disposed about the shaft and having its opposite ends expended against the washer and the bottom of'the:oavity. Acting against the force of spring 60 isanother -helical spring 61 which is disposed about the bottom ofthe piston and a washer 62 abutting.againstthmtopff'sleeve 5.4i.

A pin and slot arrangement. 63. is'` employed to prevent the piston fromrotatingwithinthe .body and-.yet to permit verticaldisplacement of`th`e piston. Body 47 and piston 51 are providedlwithapertures*.64'and 65, respectively, which communicate the cavity exteriorally of the body. The degree of communication is dependent upon the relative position of the apertures so that the iiow of Water through they apertures is' regulated between a condition of smallwater'iiow and' a condition'of maximum flow.

The interior of body 47, including cavity 52, is in communicationwith the interior of cylinder-31 and piston 34 viaa piping arrangement 66whicl1 is'connected between a port 67 in capA 48 andY a portf 7*()l in cap 32. Thereby, water4 surrounding theedashY pot maybe drawn into the dashI pot and; intothe; cylinder 31Y via piping 66' in response toa. withdrawal ofJthecylindferfrom about piston v 34. The Water'pressure onzthe lower side of piston 51 spring 43 is connected between pins 41 and 42, respective- Y ly, which continually exerts a" force on the cylinder to draw the cylinder over the piston in the direction of anchor 21. This action in turn pulls the shaft 16 into an upright position via the first universal joint. Also, the

preload of spring 43 causes han'd wheel 17 to be forced v against the upper end of tube 15 so that the float 10 is preloaded. Therefore, a vertical weight equalfto the preload weight can be applied to platform of the float before any downward movement of the float will result. Any such downward movement would cause cylinder 3'1 to move downward under the force of spring 43 until the lower end of the cylinder engages capV 37. The preload on spring 43 -is normally suicient that engagement would not result. Also, spring 43 absorbs the torque load between the wheel and the anchor to prevent the hand wheel from rotating. Overlapping guides could be added, in` slide arrangement, between and on piston 34 and cylinder 31 to absorb the torque load which would be otherwise imparted to spring 43.

In order to prevent the piston and cylinder arrangement from extending or retracting at a rate which might be considered excessive for controlling the tilting action of the float, a dash pot arrangement 44 is provided which is suitably clamped to the cap 32 carried on the upper end of cylinder 31 by means ofa conventional strap clampgmeans- 45y and a'second strap clamp means'46.

Dash pot 44 comprises, in general, a hollow 'body 47 having an upper and lower cap 48; and 50 which closesV ltheinterior of the body and a moving calithaform piston 51which is carried in a cavity 52 ofthe body. The piston is arranged to travel within the cavity about athreaded shaft 53'projecting through the lower cap 50.V Shaft 53 passes through a =threaded-internal bore of a sleeve 54 which isprovided with external threads for engagement with mating threads of a bore 55provided5in Vthe lower cap-50.' Several Awing nuts 56 are carried `of the Vsleeve and shaft exteriorallyof the body' forthe purpose of adjustment of the sleeve and shaft andv to 'secure the adjusted which;will act against the'pressuIe-on the upper'side of the piston ispredetermined by adjusting the sizeof opening '71, which communicates with the interior ofthe body. The size of theopening isl adjustable-by selecting the position `of lock nut 72 on the shaft 73 containing the opening 71.. The strength of` springs 60 andY `61 determines how far the piston 51 will move to close oriiice 64'in relation to the.water'pressuredeveloped in cylinder'31 caused by movement of the oat and the size of opening 71 determinesthe rate of movement'of the piston 51'.

When the apparatus ofthe present invention is properly installed in a body of water, bowl 10-will' float in the water and will beA heldsubstantially upright from its anchor 214 by meansy of the spring'43` whichurges cylinder 31l over piston 34lto pull shaft `ltdownward. The tirst and-'second universal jointsserve toY prevent the shaft 16 from fully rotating about 'the anchorl although limited rotation is permitted.' In use, a swimmer or bather climbs ontoplatform 12 and gripsfhand wheel 17 while implanting his feetv iirmlyfonrtlie platform.- By grasping the hand Vwheel'inahandover-handv fashion, the oat 10 will rotate about tube 15 vand-shaft .16aixed thereto. As ythe user, or users as the caseA may be; shifts his weight on the platform, oat10 will'tilt'so'thatthe loaded portion of the float sinks into'vthe water while its unloaded portion rises abo-ve` the water surface;

inasmuch asthe first-universal joint comprising staples 18 and 19 is located in close proximity to the bottom of the float, the lower end of'shaft 16 pivots about the universal joint so that substantially no waterV displacement occurs. During theA tilting movement, ther oat may be rotated on tube-16between hand wheel and the collar stop 30;r As the lower endvof tube 15 and shaft 16 are tiltedlwith the float, cylinder 3-1v is pulled from over piston 34 against the tension of the spring 43. This action causes a vacuum to exist 'within thecylinder which draws vwater into the hollow cylinder and piston via the piping 66 and apertures 64 and 65 in the dash pot 44. Conversely,'when the oat is tilted to another position, the water contained in the cylinder andpiston is forced through the piping 66 and out of the dash pot via apertures 64 and 65. Consequently, it can beseen that the position of the pistonY 51 of the dash pot and thereby Ythe ow of water throughthe apertures is'controlled. The

drawing of water through the apertures or forcing water out of the .dash pot through the apertures, in turn, controls the sensitivity of the apparatus to change from one position of tilt to another.

Various modifications are contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is l. An amusement apparatus comprising, an anchor, an extendable linkage having one end universally connected with the anchor, an upright shaft having a universal connection with the other end of the extendable linkage, a float mounted to rotate on the shaft, the oat including a platform having a spherical shaped air cha-mber on the bottom thereof through the apex of which and the center of the platform the shaft extends, means carried on the extendable linkage for preventing the rotation of the shaft and a hand grip fixed to the shaft to provide for the rotation of the float by users of the apparatus changing their hand holds on the grip.

2. The invention as defined in claim l wherein the extendable linkage includes a preloaded resilient means urging the linkage and the shaft to an upright position respective to the anchor.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the float is of a Ifixed height and including stop means secured to the lower end of the shaft which cooperates with the hand grip so that the oat has limited vertical movement between the stop means and the hand grip.

4. An amusement apparatus comprising, a oat including a reinforced platform having a spherical shaped air chamber on the bottom thereof, an upright shaft extending through the apex of the air chamber and the center of the platform, a sleeve fixed to the oat for rotatably mounting the oat on the shaft, an anchor, an extendable linkage having a universal connection with the anchor, another universal connection coupling the shaft to the other end of the extendable linkage, means carried on the extendable linkage for preventing the rotation of the shaft and a hand grip fixed to the shaft to provide for rotation of the float by users of the apparatus changing their hand holds on the grips.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 including means carried on the linkage for restricting extension and retraction of the linkage in response to the deviation of the shaft from an upright position by the user shifting his weight.

6. An amusement apparatus comprising, a oat including a reinforced platform having a spherical shaped air chamber on the bottom thereof, an upright shaft extending through the center of the air chamber and the center of the platform, a sleeve fixed to the fioat and rotatably mounted on the shaft, an extendable linkage having a cylinder enclosing a piston, a first universal joint coupling the anchor to the piston, a second universal joint coupling the shaft to the cylinder so that the linkage extends responsive to deviation of the shaft from its upright position, damping means carried by the cylinder for restricting the extension and retraction of the piston and cylinder, and a hand grip fixed to the shaft to provide for rotation of the oat by users of the apparatus changing their hand holds on the grips.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 including resilient means coupling the piston and cylinder of the extendable linkage urging the linkage and shaft into an upright position respective to the anchor.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,722,523 Hunter July 30, 1929 2,500,459 Hoover et al. Mar. 14, 1950 2,570,558 Johnson Oct. 9, 1951 2,585,413 Simpson Feb. l2, 1952 2,706,630 Cisne Apr. 19, 1955 2,709,980 Christie June 7, 1955 

